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About the 2021 Lordstown Endurance

July 31, 2020 by admin 1 Comment

An electric truck that’s not from Rivian or Tesla.



Pickup trucks remain a lucrative market for key manufacturers, whose profits drive these businesses and allow them to invest in other technologies, including vehicle electrification. GM and Ford are taking some of the profits culled from the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-150 and are plowing them into EV models that also include electric trucks.

Two EV makers will soon field their electric trucks when Rivian and Tesla offer models as early as 2021. But these four companies aren’t the only manufacturers looking at their EV utility options. A company called Lordstown Motors Corp., based in Ohio, will soon field an Endurance pickup truck. Built at a facility once owned by GM, the Lordstown group is working diligently to bring its truck to market, perhaps beating Tesla to it.

Lordstown Endurance

The 2021 Lordstown Endurance is built on a simple platform featuring four in-wheel hub motors with integrated software managing the same. Instead of using thousands of moving parts as is typical in gas- and diesel-powered vehicles, the four motors are the only moving parts in this EV truck’s chassis. Theoretically, with very few moving parts, this truck should stand the test of time, hence its “Endurance” nameplate.

Lordstown says its hub motor system is more efficient than the EV systems coming from other manufacturers as energy output goes immediately to each wheel. Other EV systems are more complex as they include at least one electric motor and gearbox which then transmits power to the wheels. With this four-wheel-drive Endurance, the wheels along with the integrated software work independently while also monitoring battery pack performance. The company says the pickup truck earns the equivalent of 75 MPGe.

Scant Details

The first public debut of the Endurance took place on June 25, 2020, at the factory with U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence among the dignitaries present. That news conference was scarce on tech details, although the company says the truck makes 600 horsepower and has a tow rating of up to 6,000 pounds. That towing capacity is thousands of pounds less than what Ford and Tesla are touting for their trucks and likely will shut out some buyers.



The Endurance is a crew cab model (four large doors) with room for five. According to “The Drive,” when it comes to charging, “a 7.0-kW onboard charger, a full recharge will take 10 hours using a 240-volt Level 2 AC power source. It’s unclear what charging times will look like with DC fast-charging sources.” Lordstown says the truck will supply a 260-mile range. Other details, including payload, available trims, and interior details are not yet known.

Fleet Buyers First

Like other manufacturers, Lordstown is taking “pre-orders” or early non-binding orders for its truck. Priced from $52,500, the truck should qualify purchasers with a $7,500 federal tax credit, effectively lowering their cost to $45,000, plus taxes, tags, other fees, and upgrades. Unlike the other manufacturers, Lordstown has fleet buyers in mind and is requiring them to purchase at least five trucks with a $1,000 refundable deposit each. The company says it has contracted with the disaster relief firm ServPro to take 1,200 trucks from the onset.

Delivery may be staggered with buyers having the option of receiving their trucks over two years. Once those orders are taken, individual commercial and consumer buyers will likely get their chance to purchase one. The company is looking to begin building its truck in Summer 2021 with deliveries starting soon thereafter. The Lordstown facility has an annual build capacity of 600,000 units and the company is intent on eventually reaching maximum output.

Looking Ahead

We’re not sure how strong Lordstown’s financial backing is. The manufacturing plant is on loan from GM who lent the company money to lease the facility. The company was founded by Steven Burns whose previous business Workhorse Group built battery-electric powertrains for UPS trucks.

On the other hand, Rivian has raised more than $5 billion and counts Amazon and the Ford Motor Company among its key investors. Tesla itself is a financial powerhouse with its stock valued higher than any other manufacturer. In any case, Lordstown’s success is far from guaranteed and the company will have to flawlessly execute production or risk getting run over by far stronger competition.


Photos copyright Lordstown Motors Corp.

Filed Under: New Models Tagged With: electric truck, EV, GM, Lordstown, Lordstown Endurance, Lordstown Motor, Mike Pence, OHIO

Jeep Patriot, Compass Gain a Temporary Reprieve

June 21, 2016 by admin Leave a Comment

Two compact Jeeps will be replaced by one new model in 2017.

Is this the future Jeep pickup truck?
Is this the future Jeep pickup truck?

The Jeep brand’s two smallest models slotted above the Renegade may reach the 2017 model year after all. The Jeep Compass and Patriot, compact SUVs introduced in 2007, will be built until Dec. 23, 2016. A Brazilian-manufactured replacement vehicle bearing one of the two model names will launch in 2017, according to Automotive News.

Plant and Product Shuffling

The reprieve comes as Fiat Chrysler realigns its manufacturing base to build more SUVs. Both the Compass and the Patriot as well as the Dodge Dart are assembled in Belvidere, Illinois. All three models will be canceled or moved out to make way for the Jeep Cherokee.

The Cherokee is currently built in Toledo, Ohio, but will be moved to Illinois in an effort to provide additional capacity for the next-generation Jeep Wrangler and a much anticipated Jeep pickup truck. Following extensive retooling, Cherokee production is due to begin in May.

Jeep Cherokee

Jeep Cherokee.

The plant shuffling also extends to Sterling Heights, Michigan, where the Chrysler 200 midsize sedan is being built, but in modest numbers. FCA plans to lay off an entire shift of workers as it realigns Chrysler 200 production with demand. Sales of the 200 are down sharply over last year as consumers shift to pickup trucks and SUVs.

By 2018, the Sterling Heights plant will begin making the next-generation Ram 1500 pickup truck. FCA is still looking for a partner to build the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart, models it says it no longer have priority in its portfolio. So far, no manufacturer has been identified as a potential partner.

Lengthy Model Run

Eleven years is a long time for a model run and both the Compass and Patriot are showing their age. The two models were extensively updated in 2011 as part of a massive product overhaul conducted by the then Chrysler Group in advance of its merger with Fiat.

Strong incentives coupled with increased interest by consumers in all matters of SUV have helped Patriot and Compass sales stay strong. However, with new models above (Cherokee) and under (Renegade), customers have much better choices.

Jeep Renegade

Jeep Renegade.

Future Jeep Product

FCA has two significant moneymakers in its Jeep and Ram brands. However, unlike Ram, Jeep is now a global brand and will continue to provide the most significant growth and drive the greatest profits for the automaker going forward.

FCA is also holding down costs by building Jeep’s two smallest models overseas. Besides the Brazilian-built replacement for the Compass and Patriot, the entry-level Renegade is built in Italy. All other Jeep models are built in the US.

Slotted above the Cherokee is the Grand Cherokee and in its own special category is the Jeep Wrangler, the only body-on-frame Jeep model presently built.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Jeep Grand Wagoneer Reprise

In a Jan. 2016 update to FCA’s 2014-2018 business plan, the automaker noted that future “white-space” products are planned – Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Jeep pickup truck.

The Grand Wagoneer name was last used in 1991, a model based on the Jeep Wagoneer, itself introduced in 1963. The original Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer was based on Jeep’s full-size truck platform. Later Grand Wagoneer models incorporated features common to today’s SUVs, including a roof rack with rails, power bucket seats, leather surfaces, and upgraded sound systems.

As for the new Grand Wagoneer we know it will be a three-row luxury model, based on the next-generation Grand Cherokee platform. Further, FCA has promised the grandest of all Jeeps will compete with Land Rover for luxury SUV shoppers. FCA will introduce the Grand Wagoneer to dealers only this August. As for the rest of us, expect the luxury Jeep’s global unveiling to take place in a major US auto show by early next year.


Recent News — Limited Edition Mopar ’16 Ram Rebel Revealed

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: BRAZIL, Chrysler 200, DODGE DART, ILLINOIS, ITALY, JEEP CHEROKEE, JEEP COMPASS, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, JEEP PATRIOT, JEEP RENEGADE, JEEP WRANGLER, OHIO, PICKUP TRUCK, SUV

Honda Heritage Center Opens in Ohio

December 24, 2014 by admin 1 Comment

New facility showcases Honda’s history in America.

1974 Honda Civic.
A 1974 Civic: the model that started it all for Honda.

Many people understand that Honda is a Japanese car manufacturer, but the depth and breath of its business extends out much further than that. The company has been doing business in the United States for 55 years and was the first of the “big three” Japanese automakers to build a car manufacturing plant in North America. Truly, Honda is a global operation.

Honda Heritage Center

More than a decade before selling its first cars stateside, Honda established itself as a power equipment and powersports manufacturer. When it came time to build a car factory in the United States, the company chose Marysville, Ohio, for its first location. Since then, Honda has opened other plants, a technical development center and additional facilities. Last week, Honda turned yet another chapter in its US-based history by opening the Honda Heritage Center in Marysville.

On hand at the dedication was the chief operating officer of Honda’s North American regional operations, Takuji Yamada. He was joined by Ohio Gov. John Kasich, state and community leaders, and other Honda officials in dedicating the $35 million, 160,000 square-foot building. The facility is composed of a museum, a technical development center and offices for the automaker.

The museum portion will welcome its first visitors in January and pay tribute to “Honda’s unique tradition” and feature the many products made and achievements reached over the past half-century and more. Visitors will see how Honda has progressed technologically on a number of fronts, including motorcycles, power equipment and automobiles, with some of those products on display.

Part of the museum space will also showcase such innovative technologies as a replica of its ASIMO humanoid robot and the HondaJet. The latter is new with customer deliveries to start in 2015.

Honda motorcycles

Honda’s history of motorcycle manufacturing precedes automotive production.

Technical Development Center

The technical development center was designed to assist Honda engineers, equipment service technicians and production associates in automotive production across North America. Its mission is to ensure that Honda associates are able to carry out the company’s advanced technology requirements. Essentially, Marysville will play a greater role in helping Honda with the development and production of global Honda models. The upcoming Acura NSX is just one example of such a new model.

Explained Tom Shoupe, chief operating officer and executive vice president of Honda of America Mfg. Inc., “As we introduce more sophisticated technologies in our products and in our plants, we are working to ensure that our associates are equipped with the skills required for the manufacturing demands of the future. We view this investment in Honda people as critical to our future success.”

The State of Ohio provided grant money through its JobsOhio program to help launch the technical development center. The center has five full classrooms, including robotic manufacturing cells to provide more hands-on training for technicians. The curriculum is composed of several elements ranging from maintenance math and frequency drives to advanced training for die molds and machining. The state believes the center will serve as both an important focal point for Honda as well as augment regional labor pool development.

HondaJet

The Acura NSX, HondaJet & ASIMO are among Honda’s futuristic offerings.

Detroit Debut: 2016 Acura NSX

Besides its heritage center announcement, Honda’s Acura division made some news of its own as it announced that its second-generation NSX sportscar will make its production version debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this January.

The new model will be underpinned by a hybrid powertrain outfitted with a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine and multiple electric motors. Global production of the 2016 Acura NSX will take place exclusively in Marysville, Ohio, with the first deliveries to customers expected in late 2015. Additional product information will be offered at the Detroit auto show with official pricing coming later in the year.

Photos supplied courtesy of Honda North America.

Additional Honda News

Honda Beats Nissan With a CR-V Stick

Honda Debuts FCV Concept Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle

Why the Honda Insight Failed

Next Generation Honda Ridgeline Silhouette Teased

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: ACURA NSX, American Honda, ASIMO, HONDA HERITAGE CENTER, INNOVATION, MARYSVILLE, OHIO, TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER, Technology

Hot Car: 2016 Acura NSX Prototype Laps Mid-Ohio

August 5, 2013 by admin 3 Comments

Acura NSX
An Acura NSX prototype debuts in Ohio.

Few products from Honda have been so anticipated as the Acura NSX, a two-seat, mid-engine supercar that has been out of production since 2005. Sold as the Honda NSX in most markets, an all-new Acura model will go on sale in 2015, an Ohio-built two-door coupe that made its global debut this past weekend.

Ohio Race Track Debut

Honda used the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, on Sunday to debut the Acura NSX prototype. “Prototype” for some manufacturers typically means a car that advances the “spirit” of a future model. For Honda, prototypes are usually the final design for a future product. Thus, the Acura NSX that lapped the race track on Sunday should be virtually identical to the production version we’ll see in about two years.

The all-new Acura NSX will be powered by a direct-injected V-6 engine paired with Honda’s super handling all-wheel-drive system. It will be a hybrid model too, one that will feature three electric motors. One motor will be located up front and work in conjunction with the gasoline engine and the dual-clutch transmission driving the rear wheels. The other two electric motors will drive the front wheels. It is an arrangement that the Honda/Acura people says will adjust torque to the front wheels while cornering.

Acura NSX.
Special decaling marks the Acura NSX prototype.

2016 Acura NSX

A contingent of Honda personnel, race car officials and automotive journalists were on hand to witness the debut of the Acura NSX. Honda issued a press release on Sunday to coincide with the NSX’s global debut with Ted Klaus, chief engineer of Honda R&D Americas, Inc., offering his comments.

Said Klaus, “With leadership from our R&D and manufacturing teams here in Ohio, we are developing a next generation sports car that will be equally at home on the street and on the race track, so it is natural for us to showcase the prototype vehicle here at Mid-Ohio. It is exciting for us to see the prototype running on the track, reflecting the great progress we’re making toward the 2015 global launch of the NSX, as we engineer a new sports-car experience for customers around the world.”

The next generation Acura NSX is being led by engineers at Honda R&D Americas, Inc., in Raymond, Ohio. This vehicle will be built in Marysville, Ohio, using both domestic and globally sourced parts, at a newly established, Performance Manufacturing Center, currently under construction.

Acura NSX.
Acura NSX strikes a pose in Ohio.

Acura NSX Overview

When NSX production ceased in 2005, Honda was building just a few hundred vehicles per year. During its 1991 to 2005 lifespan, just 8,900 models were sold according to Edmunds. The cost for maintaining the model line was prohibitive, but Honda had been considering a new model with a V-10 engine in recent years. Going with a V-6 engine and a hybrid drivetrain takes these plans in another direction, one that Honda hopes will result in strong interest.

Judging by the looks of the prototype and Honda’s reputation for stellar manufacturing, enthusiasts who have well north of $100,000 to burn may line up for this supercar. Yes, it will truly be a halo model, one that will draw attention to the Acura brand like no other model it currently sells can.

Acura NSX Supercar

  • Sticker price $125,000 (est.)
  • Seats 2 occupants
  • Mid-engine mounted V-6 engine
  • Dual-clutch transmission
  • Hybrid drivetrain with three electric motors
  • Super-handling all-wheel drive
  • Competitors: Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, Nissan GT-R, Viper SRT
  • Designed, engineered in Raymond, Ohio
  • Vehicle Assembly: Marysville, Ohio

See Also — Countdown to the Acura NSX Reveal

Photos courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: ACURA NSX, HONDA, OHIO, PROTOTYPE, RACE CAR, SPORTS CAR

Countdown to the Acura NSX Reveal

July 29, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

Not too many Honda and Acura products spark widespread anticipation, but the return of the Acura NSX super car has certainly sent tongues wagging. American Honda has played no small part in all this by announcing that the Acura NSX will be revealed at an Ohio race track in early August. Production won’t begin until early 2015, but we’ll soon see a running version of this super car, something that will take everyone’s anticipation up another notch. Well played, Honda.

2016 Acura NSX.

First Look: 2016 Acura NSX Prototype.

 

2016 Acura NSX

Last week, Acura teased us with a prototype picture of the NSX and announced that a “running prototype” of the Acura NSX would take to the track just prior to the start of the Honda Indy 200 IndyCar Series race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. The super car, replete with custom graphics, will lap the track on August 4, 2013 (this Sunday). For those enthusiasts that cannot be there in person, the race will be broadcast live by NBC Sports Network beginning at 3 p.m. EDT. Let’s hope that NBC provides us with more than the requisite photo of the new model.

The all-new model will be built exclusively in Marysville, Ohio, at a former seat plant that is located adjacent to Honda’a Marysville Automobile Plant. In March 2013, American Honda announced that it would invest $70 million in the facility and tap 100 of its best workers to build the 2016 Acura NSX. Yes, imagine being called out to build this car — it certainly beats working on a Honda Accord, does it not?

Development of the next generation Acura NSX is being led by engineers at Honda R&D Americas, Inc. in Raymond, Ohio. The original model was sold from 1991 to 2005, a limited production super car built in Japan. The car’s return had been rumored for years, but the recession of 2008 to 2009 may have delayed that announcement.

Acura NSX Prototype

The pictured prototype appears to be slightly different from the earlier model American Honda showed us last spring. That model feature a set of pronounced LED headlamps — five pairs to be exact — while the new model has a more subdued face. However, the earlier sketches emphasized the NSX’s profile, while the latest picture hones in on its fascia. We can speculate all that we want about the differences, but the August 2013 prototype will mirror the production model. One thing that you can say about Honda is that its prototype models seem to always ascribe closely to the production version.

The Acura NSX will be powered by a mid-mounted V-6 engine mated to Honda’s sport hybrid system with three electric motors. One electric motor will be located between the rear wheels, with the other two up front. Yes, it is an electrified model, but it is expected to deliver top performance when operating in gasoline mode. This vehicle will also feature Acura’s Super Handling All Wheel Drive system.

Ohio Players

Entrusting its Ohio workforce to build the Acura NSX demonstrates that Honda is confident that no better team of workers will assemble this super car. Honda has been building cars in the United States for 30 years, learning that American workers can produce high quality products. It was a risky move back them, but Honda’s confidence in its North American workforce is strong.

Said Ted Klaus, Honda R&D Americas chief engineer, “We have a very clear understanding of the high customer expectations luxury buyers around the world have for a supercar, and our challenge is to exceed them and create new value for the customer. This new Performance Manufacturing Center will be key to this challenge.”

And that challenge will deliver to the world a hand-crafted supercar, a halo model for the Acura brand.


See Also — Can You Dig It? Faraday Future Plots Course in Nevada

Photo courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Filed Under: New Models Tagged With: ACURA, ACURA NSX, American Honda, MID-OHIO, OHIO, UNITED STATES

Apollo Tyres to Acquire Cooper Tires

June 13, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, based in Findlay, Ohio, says that it is being acquired by India’s Apollo Tyres. The two companies announced a definitive merger agreement on Wednesday, with the combined entity representing the seventh-largest tire company in the world. Cooper was founded in 1914 while Apollo is a relative newcomer created in 1976.

Indian Tire Manufacturer

Apollo, unknown in the United States, builds performance and mid-tier tires for Asian and other markets. Its eponymous and Vredestein brands lead its tire line while Cooper Tire is also known for its Avon, Roadmaster, Starfire, Chengshan and Mastercraft brand. Cooper is also an important supplier to Sears stores.

Apollo Tyres Cooper TiresWith a combined sales of $6.6 billion, the merged company is rated seventh behind Bridgestone, Michelin, Goodyear, Mainland, Pirelli and Sumitomo. Cooper Tire was ranked No. 10 in 2012 and Apollo came in at No. 16 according to the Global Rubber Markets website.

Apollo Tyres

Apollo is led by Onkar S. Kanwar, Past President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). He currently serves as President for the Indian Rubber Manufacturers Research Association. Kanwar, a graduate of the University of California, has expanded Apollo beyond Asia to Europe and Africa, acquiring other companies along the way. Apollo operates four manufacturing plants each in India and South Africa and also has a plant in the Netherlands.

Said Kanwar, The combined company will be uniquely positioned to address large, established markets, such as the United States and the European Union, as well as the fast-growing markets of India, China, Africa, and Latin America where there is significant potential for further growth. Our combined portfolio of brands and products will be amongst the most comprehensive in the industry.

Cooper Tires

The merger is expected to be completed later this year pending regulatory and shareholder approval. The boards of the two companies unanimously agreed to the merger which will pay Cooper shareholders $35 per share or 40 percent above the weighted average for the past 30 days. The all-cash transaction will cost approximately $3.5 billion.

With Cooper Tire slated to transfer into Indian hands, Goodyear will be the sole major American-owned tire manufacturer. Brands such as Firestone, General Tire, Uniroyal and BF Goodrich are still around, but are now owned by an assortment of Asian and European corporations. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company employs more than 13,000 people worldwide and has a 14 percent share of the US tire replacement market.

Further Reading

How to Buy New Tires For Your Car

Hankook Tire: No Longer Anonymous

Summer Tires for the Ultimate in Driving Performance

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: Apollo Tyres, Cooper Tire, India, MERGER, OHIO, UNITED STATES

Acura NSX Supercar: Made In Ohio

May 17, 2013 by admin 2 Comments

Acura NSX
Acura NSX supercar to debut in 2015.

The highly anticipated Acura NSX supercar has a new home. This week, Honda of America announced that it plans to convert a former seat plant adjacent to its Marysville Auto Plant into a Performance Manufacturing Center to build the resurrected Acura NSX coupe. Honda will make a $70 million investment and tap 100 highly skilled manufacturing associates from its existing operation to construct its halo model.

2016 Acura NSX

The original Acura NSX was marketed from 1991 to 2005 with just hundreds of models built annually. A prototype of the future model was displayed at the 2012 Detroit auto show, a mid-engine model outfitted with a V-6 engine and a dual-clutch transmission. It is a hybrid model too, demonstrating Honda’s commitment to combine performance with fuel efficiency.

Honda’s Performance Manufacturing Center represents its third auto plant in Ohio. Honda’s engine plant in Anna, Ohio, will supply the NSX’s powertrain.

Executive Appointments Announced

Besides identifying its plant location, Honda announced that Honda R&D Americas chief engineer Ted Klaus is leading the global team developing the new NSX. In addition, Clement D’ Souza, associate chief engineer at Honda of America, will lead the team that will bring the Acura NSX to production beginning in 2015.

“We have a very clear understanding of the high customer expectations luxury buyers around the world have for a supercar, and our challenge is to exceed them and create new value for the customer,” said Klaus. “This new Performance Manufacturing Center will be key to this challenge.”

Honda will likely move quickly to identify the workers that will build the Acura NSX. Once the team has been assembled it will begin training and the manufacturing processes will be put in place. The Ohio manufacturing plant will be the exclusive builder of the all-new Acura NSX, a model that will be exported worldwide.

Luxury Segment Strength

Committing to building the supercar will enhance Acura’s image in the United States and abroad. Acura represents one of the better selling luxury brands in America, beating out Cadillac while finishing behind BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus. For 2012, Honda reported 156,216 Acura models sold.

When the Acura NSX arrives on the market, it will join seven other Acura models ranging from the RLX flagship sedan to its ZDX four-door sports coupe. The balance of the Acura line up is composed mostly of sedans and crossovers with the TSX sold both in sedan and wagon body styles.


See Also — Acura Mulls a Full All-Wheel Drive Strategy

Acura NSX prototype model courtesy of Honda of America.

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: ACURA NSX, HONDA, OHIO, Performance Manufacturing Center, PRODUCTION, SUPERCAR

Hankook Tire: No Longer Anonymous

October 6, 2011 by admin 3 Comments

A Korean tire manufacturer wants you to know the ‘Hankook Tire’ name.

You’ve heard of Firestone, Goodyear and Michelin, but what about Hankook Tire? Maybe you have and simply just didn’t make the connection. This company, based in South Korea, is the seventh-largest tire manufacturer in the world, deriving 20 percent of its business from original equipment manufacturers and the rest from customers seeking replacement tires.

And it is with replacement tires that the Hankook name may have surfaced for you, especially if your tire retailer includes Hankook among your choices. You may have also noticed the manufacturer’s prominently displayed ad in New York City’s Times Square or as a sponsor of 22 major league baseball teams. Moreover, Hankook Tire is a significant supporter of Formula Drift.

Industry Suppliers

Opportunities to visit the facilities of auto industry suppliers don’t come nearly as often do my visits with the car manufacturers, so when Hankook invited me to visit the company’s research and development center in Akron, Ohio, I jumped at the chance. The company’s U.S. headquarters are located in Wayne, New Jersey, but the Akron Technical Center is where much of Hankook’s U.S. marketed products are conceived.

Hankook Tire

► 7th largest tire manufacturer in the world
► 7th largest tire retailer in the United States
► New plant is under construction in Indonesia
► Hankook has 5 R&D centers worldwide
► 80% of its business is replacement tires
► OE manufacturer for 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
► Ventus S1 evo luxury premium summer UHP #1

Only four media professionals were invited for Hankook’s event, a five-hour show and tell of the company’s facility, providing us with the unique opportunity to meet with some of the top engineers in the business. Although the company’s Akron facility has been in existence for nearly two decades, many of the 40 or more employees on hand were lured to Hankook from other tire manufacturers including B.F. Goodrich, Dunlop and Goodyear.

Hankook History

Hankook Tire was launched in 1941, survived foreign occupation and two devastating wars, and is one of several companies that have helped to transform South Korea from an impoverished nation into an international powerhouse. Rapid growth has come in the past 10 years — the company is the only global tire manufacturer that has managed to remain profitable and increase its market share. With its current or under construction manufacturing plants in South Korea, China, Hungary and Indonesia, the company expects to climb to fifth place globally by 2014, but it will still be well behind Bridgestone, Michelin and Goodyear, the tire industry’s version of the Big 3.

The Hankook name is found on a variety of tire applications including cars, pickup trucks, touring and racing, medium and light-duty buses, and winter duty. The company does not make motorcycle tires nor will you find its tires on earthmoving equipment — a spokesman for Hankook noted that the company is satisfied with its current market penetration and will concentrate on growing those segments.

Technical Center

The Akron Technical Center is all about engineering, research, rubber compounding and testing. Why Akron? Well, Akron was once known as the “tire manufacturing capital of the world,” but has long since seen its industry flee overseas. What’s left are several research centers and Goodyear’s global headquarters. Notably, the University of Akron is a prime research hub for tire manufacturing, enabling industry minds and academia to collaborate. Hankook says that a number of its new workers come from schools such as Akron, students who complete a cooperative education program and are hired upon graduation.

Tire design is conceived by utilizing proprietary or industry software. Not until engineers have determined the concept’s viability is the design forwarded to another department for a full scale mockup.

Our comprehensive tour allowed us to see the inner sanctum of Hankook’s U.S. research and development. No cameras were allowed, but much was shown, including proprietary equipment that runs tires through a series of tests including one device that tests a tire’s ability to withstand temperatures ranging from minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

These tests are run by engineers to help determine how tires behave on the road including measuring for noise, vibration and harshness. We learned that when a car manufacturer considers a tire for its vehicles, the automaker works closely with Hankook Tire to design one to its specifications. This involves starting the process off by using in-house software to design the tire, followed by a review from Hankook engineers before a prototype is built at ATC.

Once a design is determined, then that information is transferred to South Korea and a set of ready for testing tires is shipped stateside for automaker inspection. It takes about two or three cycles of development to get the right tires made before a final design is locked down. The final design follows extensive track testing to ensure that the tires meet the car manufacturer’s exacting requirements.

Once a design passes engineering scrutiny, it passes to an “artist” who designs and cuts the tire accordingly. That design eventually finds its way to South Korea where a set of road ready tires are shipped back to the United States for testing.

Natural & Synthetic

If you are under the impression that tires are chiefly made from natural rubber, then you’re mistaken. Natural rubber is used, but SBR, bromobutyl, polybutylene and EPDM may also be used, synthetic rubbers that are mixed and milled with other ingredients until the right consistency is made. Yes, there are some similarities between tire making and cake baking — you need the right ingredients and percentages thereof to produce a finished product that won’t go flat when it exits the oven.

The Hankook tour underscored the importance of tire safety and vehicle control. To this day, when you purchase a new car, the car manufacturer extends its warranty to every vehicle component except the tires. Your tires are warranted solely by the tire manufacturer, but the relationship between the car company and the tire company is the same as you would find between the automaker and a suspension supplier, for example. With tires, a separate umbrella of protection is offered directly from the tire manufacturer, an original equipment supplier that is chosen by the car manufacturer.

Renting an ice rink helps engineers to see just how well tires grip ice. Other tests include spewing water on a track and measuring hydroplaning.

Manufacturing Guidelines

The most important takeaway from my visit with the Hankook Tire people is that there is much more engineering that goes into tire construction then you might guess. Federal regulations, industry guidelines and company operating procedures are followed to ensure that the finished product conforms to these stipulations. That’s critically important, because tires not only hold up an important consumer investment, but can affect the lives of people riding inside of these vehicles.

Disclaimer — Hankook Tire paid for my flight, hotel and meals. No money was exchanged to solicit a review from me. These comments are entirely my own.

Photos: Hankook Tire USA

Filed Under: Special Tagged With: Akron, ATC, Engineering, HANKOOK TIRES, OHIO, South Korea, tires

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